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We recommend, therefore, that this Ordinance be repealed and we have included regulations under Category 7 Readily Combustible Substances covering the conveyance and storage of Celluloid, Cellu- loid Scrap and Films (Nitrocellulose Base). These are based on the present Regulations, but we have also studied the Report of a Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department on Cellu- loid Storage, dated January 1950, and have made amendments where
necessary.
"Nonflam" films are rapidly replacing the very inflammable films of nitrocellulose and various plastics are now being used in place of celluloid, so it is to be hoped that in the near future these very dangerous substances will no longer be seen. We recommend that the importation of celluloid toys should be prohibited at as early a date as possible.
24.
Retailers' Premises
in the very centre of serious fire hazard.
We have given serious consideration to the large number of retail shops which have as their stock-in-trade industrial chemicals of various kinds and other Dangerous Goods, many of them of a highly combustible nature. A casual visit to Hing Lung and Tung Man Streets,
a highly congested area, will disclose a very
The plea in most cases is that they must have samples ready to show their customers, but it is quite clear that a great deal more than "samples" is stored in this locality. Te recommend that all these premises be licensed and, though it will no doubt require an increase in the Fire Brigade inspecting staff, strictly supervised. It is to be hoped that these retailers will gradually be persuaded to move to a less congested neighbourhood.
25.
Flash Points of Inflammable Liquids
We have carefully considered the question of the flash points of inflammable liquids and their declaration before shipment.
In Hong Kong, as in the United Kingdom, substances having a flash point under 73°F. are classed as highly inflammable, while those with a flash point between 73°F. and 150°F. are classed as inflammable only. The figure of 73°F. as the line of demarcation appears in the Petroleum Act. In climates where the temperature of the air approaches the flash point of the substance, precautions similar to those required for substances of lower flash points become necessary. In India, for example, some authorities place the line of demarcation at 90°F. We do not consider this necessary or desirable in some respects, but we consider it essential that the exact flash point should be stated in every case where the flash point is 150°F. or under. This requirement has been included in the proposed Dangerous Gools Manifest.
Te note that the label prescribed by the Ministry of Transport draft Regulations leaves the space vacant for the exact flash point to be entered up in respect of the highly inflammable substances but enters up the group 73°F. 150°F. in respect of inflammable liquids, but we also note that the Fort of London's stipulation is that flash points up to 200°F. "must be declared on the landing order or shipping note".
This proposal is not one-sided, as it will act to the advantage of the owner of the goods in many cases, since a substance whose flash point is known and declared can be treated under the proposed Regulations whereas a substance whose flash point is known to fall within a wide range is likely to be treated as being at the most dangerous point in that range. All substances in Category 5 should be accompanied by flash point certificates or declarations.
/ 26.